Ok, guys, all the disclaimers
apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel

For the X-Men, I'm just making
the story. And I do read all the other

Stories and they're great, keep
up the good work. They inspire me!

Darkness
stood at the edge of a high tower, looking down on the city. By day, he was
just a regular guy, by night he was a superhero. Albeit, a
superhero with no powers, but a superhero nonetheless. A real hero can
be a hero without power. He protected the city, allowing the powered heroes to
save the world. Sometimes he was overtaken by Spider-Man or the Punisher, but
most times, he was able to take on any force.

Pane
from the future levitated in front of him, "Ready for round two?" he grinned.

Chapter 64:Will

A
portal opened and Logan fell through! The Hollow walked out after him. The
streets were busy, but the alley they were in was the perfect spot. Logan
coughed, rising to his feet. The Hollow just looked around.

"Where
are we?" Logan asked.

"Back in your reality." The Hollow said, "Is this not what you wanted?"

"Yeah, but could ya warn me first?" Logan said.

"You
should get back to the X-Men." The Hollow said.

"Where're
you goin?" Logan asked.

The
Hollow stopped, "I have to understand this place! I have no place to go." He
said.

"You
could always go back with me." Logan said.

"I
could also skin you alive." The Hollow said, walking away.

-

"So,
your body is encased by metal? That is so cool!" Connor said, talking to Piotr, "I mean, how many mutants can do that?"

"Just me that we know of, comrade."Piotr smiled, "But I have to keep in shape if I am to keep
up with the other mutants."

"Sometimes,
I'm still not to the level I want to be." Connor said, "The most I've ever
thrown is half a car."

"Do not
worry, you shall be stronger someday." Piotr said.

"Daddy's home." Kitty said, noticing Logan walk through the door.

Logan
didn't say anything, he just continued to walk to the elevator, hopping on and
riding to the subbasement. He got off and walked directly to the War Room to
see Professor Xavier in deep concentration.

"I have
used Cerebro and every resource I have, but there is
no trace of Pane's astral signature." Professor said, "I fear that he may be
gone, forever. That poses the question of killing the Hollow. There may be no
hope."

Logan
looked at him slowly, "There's got to be some way to kill `im."
He said.

Pane
and I, as crazy as it sounds, stepped out of the portal and into the streets.
The street wasn't what I expected it to be. The street was...nice and futuristic
and everyone dressed like Zenon, which was totally
freaky.

"And
this future's bad?" I asked, looking around, "Okay, the style may be a little...urgh."

"Look
around, what do you see?" Future Pane asked.

I
looked around and everybody seemed to be on the same wavelength. I noticed that
there was no distinction. I felt them, all of them. Normal.

"Yes."
Pane said, "Centuries ago, there was a thing and it turned into a thing, then
there was a baby...it's such a long story. Mutants are still around, though. And
thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D. and...me, they're all in custody."

I
looked at him oddly. Who was he? What had we been through?

"Chilling,
isn't it? Live it." Pane said, "You will."

"I
won't!" I said, "You helped them trap the mutants? How could you?"

"They
were dangerous." Pane said, "I was given immunity. Freedom to
live my life alone."

The
Hollow sat on a park, watching little kids play on the playground. He couldn't
figure out what this was all about. The Hollow had seen the future of this
sorry planet and it was doomed! It was all doomed! These humans would fight to
prevent it, but it wouldn't do any good. Would it?

"They're
so precious, aren't they?" the woman sitting next to him said.

"No."
The Hollow said, "Nothing more than ants. Lower than ants."

The
woman looked at him oddly, then laughed, "You're so funny," she said, extending
her hand, "My name is Cloris."

The
Hollow tilted his head, looking at the hand.

"I'm
not much of a hand shaker, either...all those germs." Cloris smiled, "Dumb, I know, having kids and being a germophobe is pretty pointless."

I do not speak, yet she speaks.

"I do
not speak, yet you speak." The Hollow said.

Cloris
chuckled, "Are you from out of the country? Oooh how
fun!" she said, "Where are you from?"

"Terra utest." The Hollow said simply,
"I miss it terribly."

"Oooh, sounds exotic, where was it? How was it? I never got
the chance to travel." Cloris said.

"It was
splendid! We ruled! We were kings!" The Hollow said, "There was
no feelings or children. Just us."

Cloris
chuckled, "I can relate. I love my children, but what wouldn't I give to have a
little time to myself." She said.

"Time?"
The Hollow said, looking into the distance, "Time."

"Yeah,
seems like there's just not enough of it." Cloris
said.

"Or too much." The Hollow said, realizing what he was saying.

·

We ran
blocks before stopping. My chest felt as if it were
going to explode at any moment, but we couldn't stop. Pane must have been good
at outrunning these guys because he wasn't even breathing irregularly. His face
was especially blank.

"How
far into the future are we?" I asked.

"Far enough." Pane said, still peeking around the corners of the alleyway we
had found ourselves in.

Pane
finally looked back at me, "Now I know why people found me annoying." He said.

I
looked at him, a little hurt, "Annoying? Really? Cause
I thought I was particularly spunky and generally loved by all." I said.

"People
loved us." Pane said, "They're gone."

I
looked down, knowing my face showed what I was thinking. I couldn't shield it
anymore.

"We
tried to save the world, to work in teams, but we're not team people, not right now." Pane said, "We made a mistake and our
mistake, combined with the mistakes of so many others, made the world over."

"What
was the mistake?" I asked.

"Knowing." Pane said grimly.

--------------------

Well, if you liked it please
tell me so I can start work on the next one. I really need feedback, especially
if you like it. If you don't, I need advice and suggestions, please.